This year for the first time, I participated in the 10th Annual Akron Symphony Guild Boat Tour of Homes on the Portage Lakes. The annual event is sponsored by the Akron Symphony Guild to benefit the Akron Symphony Orchestra, the Symphony Chorus and the Youth Symphony.

After check in, with my prepaid ticket, I received a tour book and stood on line to wait my turn to board one of the 46 pontoons available for the tour. It was smooth sailing with pontoon boats arriving at the Harbor Inn docks for pickup of some 400 passengers. At boarding, I was given a box lunch and bottled water. Our boat Captain and first mate were Dick and Millie Poppenhouse who provided an onboard cooler of soft drinks along with umbrellas for shade from the blazing sun. It was a perfect boating day.

The Poppenhouses guided their pontoon to the first of five stops on the official tour map which was the Tudor House in New Franklin. Since the Tudor House has no docking facilities, a different approach was taken to access the house, docking was available at the State Park Beach area on Turkeyfoot Lake. Then it was a short walk to the Tudor House. Tudor craftsman style is evident in the mansion’s slate roof, dark woodwork, diamond pane windows and Penwick tile floor in the solarium of the 20 room mansion built in 1928 by Frank L. Mason.

A core of Akron Symphony Guild volunteers are stationed at each tour home to assist you. From dock workers who help tie up and direct the pontoons coming and going to the hostesses in each home pointing out unique highlights of the tour home.

At each homes entrance, in order to preserve the carpet and wood flooring from all the foot traffic, a pair of over the shoe booties was provided for each guest before entering the home and removed upon departure.

House #2 on the tour was an expansive home on Mud Lake with multiple windows, sandy beach with Tiki-hut bar, curved swimming pool and putting green to name a few of the features of this home. One of the outstanding features inside was a koi pond surrounded with mini waterfalls and tropical plants.

Our captain and first mate who live close to the Mud Lake home offered a restroom break at their beautiful lakefront home, which was appreciate by all onboard.

House #3 on Turkeyfoot Channel close to the old State park. The large blue color home originally built in 1923 was redesigned and rebuilt in 2006-2007. A unique combination of steel beam construction and poured concrete walls create peaked ceilings and curved radius walls.
East Reservoir was the destination of the final two homes on this year’s tour. Home #4 was a six year old contemporary. The current owner lived in a small house on the site as a youngster.

Years later, he bought the property from his parents, removed the existing structure and built a totally new home.

Last stop - Heron Watch development was the site of House #5. The home was built three years ago and the architect was asked to incorporate some of the fabulous stained glass windows the owners collect into the design. Leaded glass double doors from an old jewelry store open to the master bedroom featuring another tall stained glass windows and a wall lamp from an old convent in New Orleans.

Heading back to the Harbor Inn all onboard thoroughly enjoyed the tour and agreed they wanted to participate in the tour again next year. A perfect opportunity to support a good cause and to also get an inside view at the variety of homes on the Portage Lakes waterfront.

Next year‘s Akron Symphony Boat Tour of Homes on Wednesday, July 15, 2009.